The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private W A Whiffen

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Private William Alfred WHIFFEN, G/11119, 6th  Battalion  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment,  killed in action, Flanders France, death presumed 5th August 1916, age 22.

Born Crayford, Kent, son of James Edward and Charlotte Whiffen, 1 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent.

1911 Census - 9 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent -  James Edward Whiffen, head, age 47, married, farm labourer, worker, born Crayford, Kent; Charlotte Whiffen, wife, age 42, married 24 years, 11 children, 9 still alive, born Rotherhithe, Kent; Helen Whiffen, daughter, age 21, printer assistant, worker, born Crayford, Kent; Edward James Whiffen, son, age 19, single, general labourer, worker, born Crayford, Kent; William Alfred Whiffen, son, age 17, single, general labourer, worker, born Crayford, Kent; Jane Whiffen, daughter, age 15, single, printer assistant, worker, born Crayford, Kent; Mildred Elizabeth Whiffen, daughter, age 12, school, born Crayford, Kent; Emma Celia Whiffen, daughter, age 10, school, born Crayford, Kent; Harry Whiffen, son, age 8, school, born Crayford, Kent; Bessie Florence Whiffen, daughter, age 5, school, born Crayford, Kent; Ernest John Whiffen, son, age 6 months, born Crayford, Kent.

Home, 17th November 1915 to 7th June 1916; BEF, 8th June 1916 to 5th August 1916.

Enlisted  Woolwich, Kent, age 22 years & 280 days, height 5ft 6¾ inches, weight 128lbs.  Resided 1 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent. Formerly labourer in tannery.

17th November 1915, enlisted; 18th November 1915, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 18th November 1915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 8th June 1916, posted BEF & 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 8th June 1916, embarked; 9th June 1916, disembarked; 20th June 1916, joined Battalion, In the Field; 4th August 1916, posted missing.

26th August 1919, Statement of Relatives - Widow, none; Children, none; Father, James Edward Whiffen, 1 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent; Mother, Charlotte Whiffen, 1 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent; Brothers - Edward James Whiffen, age 28, 22 The "Park" Northumberland Heath; Harry Whiffen, age 17, 1 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent; Ernest Whiffen, age 8, 1 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent; Sisters - Helen Lucas, age 30, 22 The "Park" Northumberland Heath; Jane Whiffen, age 23, 1 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent; Mildred Whiffen, age 21, 1 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent; Emma Whiffen, age 19, 1 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent; Bessie Whiffen, age 14, 1 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent; Edith Whiffen, age 8?, 1 Maxim Road, Crayford, Kent.

Commemorated  Thiepval Memorial, Pier & Face 11C, Somme, France.